Which Funding Archetype Are You?

Every founder carries an hourglass. Last week, we mapped out how to stretch six months of sand in your own hourglass.

But here’s the brutal truth: you can stretch six months to the limit… cut costs, hustle harder, and still collapse before the finish line.

What separates those who survive from those who run out of breath isn’t time.

It’s how they choose to fuel the journey while the clock is still ticking.

That’s why today, I’m handing you the Six Funding Archetypes: Six paths founders use to extend their runway and keep building while the sand is still falling.

Think of them as six playstyles for extending your runway.

Each one has a mindset, each one has risks, and each one has power moves.

Some are scrappy, some are strategic, and some will quietly sabotage you if you’re not careful.

Your job isn’t to pick the “perfect” archetype. It’s to recognize which one you’re living in now, and know when to switch before the clock runs out.

So, as you read, put yourself inside each path, ask yourself these two important questions:

1. Does this feel like me right now?
2. And is this who I need to be next?

(To make it more interesting, I used martial arts-themed titles for each archetype 😀).

The Monk: You live lean. You stretch $1 as if it were $10. You eat cheap meals, cancel subscriptions, and take the bus if you have to.

• Your move: The less you spend, the longer you can survive.
• Try this week: Cut 3 expenses you don’t really need, sell 1 thing you don’t use, and spend 5 more hours serving clients.

The Clan Builder: You don’t walk this path alone. You bring in partners, co-founders, or family who believe in you and are ready to help.

• Your move: More people = more money, more skills, less weight on your shoulders.
• Try this week: List 3 people who trust you. Reach out with a small, clear way they can support — and make the terms crystal clear.

The Loan Swordsman: You borrow money, but with precision. Small business loans, microloans, or a credit line. Sharp and powerful but risky if careless.

• Your move: Only borrow when you know exactly how you’ll pay it back.
• Try this week: Check what a small loan would cost, then map out which invoices or clients will repay it and when.

The Opportunist Archer: You don’t chase investors. You hunt for free money, grants, contests, and incubator stipends.

• Your move: Get cash without giving up ownership.
• Try this week: Find 3 grants or competitions in your field. Draft a one-page summary you can reuse everywhere.

🍶 The Drunken Master (⚠️ Caution): You rely on risky tools like credit cards, payday loans, or high-interest cash advances to fund your business. It feels fast and easy at first — but one wrong step, and the interest drowns you.

• Your move: These tools don’t extend your runway, they shorten it. Use them carelessly, and you’ll spend more time paying banks than building your business.
• Try this week: If you’re leaning on credit cards or short-term loans, stop and review the numbers. How much interest are you really paying? Freeze all high-risk funding and redirect your energy into safer paths — sales, client delivery, or even small grants.

The Sensei: You play the long game. You sharpen your systems, build proof, then raise money only when it truly multiplies what’s already working.

• Your move: Funding should fuel success, not fix problems.
• Try this week: Package your offer neatly, deliver one case study, and write one simple process you can repeat.

Remember: you don’t have to stay in one lane forever.

Many founders start as a Monk, become an Archer, and grow into a Sensei. The secret isn’t picking one forever; it’s knowing when to shift before your time runs out.

Don’t just think about it, write it down. Which archetype are you living in today? And which one will you step into before the sand runs out?

If you’re not sure and are having difficulty deciding, email me back with your questions, I’m happy to review and share my thoughts.